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Chris Chelios wants to stay in Detroit

Chris Chelios hasn’t officially retired, but judging by his words yesterday it’s just about a foregone conclusion that the legendary defenseman will be hanging up the skates for good this season. From George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press:

“Hockey’s been in my life so long, I can’t see myself not being in hockey the rest of my life,” he said. “I think there’s a position somewhere for me in hockey. If this is the end, I’ve prepared myself for it.”

“I don’t want to leave Detroit,” he said. “Especially with my daughter going into her senior year. It’s for me to be home. It’s for me to sacrifice a little after 26 years.

“As much as kids ignore their parents and act like they don’t want to be around them, when I show up for their games and I look in their eyes, they’re pretty fired up and they want me there. It’s a great feeling as a parent.”

Chelios has spent most of his long career in Detroit, and last year took off to continue playing hockey in Chicago for the Wolves of the AHL. He also appeared in seven games with the Atlanta Thrashers, although it was clear that was far from the great player he once was -- not surprising considering he’s 48 years old.

He is looking to joining the Detroit Red Wings organization in some capacity and if that isn’t a sign he’s done playing I don’t know what is. He has two sons that will be playing college hockey together next year at Michigan State and a daughter in high school -- after all these years I think we can finally say that Chris Chelios is actually going to retire from the game of hockey.

Even with everything he wants to take care of off the ice, you know that’s still a tough decision for the man to make.